Page 376 - oliver-twist

spoke; ‘I shall be better presently. Close the window, pray!’
Oliver hastened to comply with her request. The young
lady, making an effort to recover her cheerfulness, strove to
play some livelier tune; but her fingers dropped powerless
over the keys. Covering her face with her hands, she sank
upon a sofa, and gave vent to the tears which she was now
unable to repress.
‘My child!’ said the elderly lady, folding her arms about
her, ‘I never saw you so before.’
‘I would not alarm you if I could avoid it,’ rejoined Rose;
‘but indeed I have tried very hard, and cannot help this. I
fear I AM ill, aunt.’
She was, indeed; for, when candles were brought, they
saw that in the very short time which had elapsed since
their return home, the hue of her countenance had changed
to a marble whiteness. Its expression had lost nothing of its
beauty; but it was changed; and there was an anxious hag-
gard look about the gentle face, which it had never worn
before. Another minute, and it was suffused with a crim-
son flush: and a heavy wildness came over the soft blue eye.
Again this disappeared, like the shadow thrown by a pass-
ing cloud; and she was once more deadly pale.
Oliver, who watched the old lady anxiously, observed
that she was alarmed by these appearances; and so in truth,
was he; but seeing that she affected to make light of them,
he endeavoured to do the same, and they so far succeeded,
that when Rose was persuaded by her aunt to retire for the
night, she was in better spirits; and appeared even in better
health: assuring them that she felt certain she should rise in